Avinza???

[thisissohard]

anyone have any problems with Avinza? (morphine sulfate extended release). My dr said that it had an antagonist that made it non addictive.  He prescribed it to me alone with Norco (high dosage)- I stopped taking both, and it's been 6 weeks, but I'm still struggling.

[mustanggt]

Hey, I have been on Avinza for chronic back pain.  My pain doc prescribed it to me along with the Morphine Sulfate I was already taking.  The Avinza is an extended release Morphine.  Whenever you drink alcohol while taking Avinza, it breaks down the long lasting action of the pill, which causes a rapid release of all of the medicine into your body at once.  That is why you felt lightheaded.  It is really dangerous to drink alcohol with Morphine, and pretty much any other opiate.  Not only can it make you lightheaded, but it can supress your breathing, it can cause you to pass out, it can make you very sick to your stomach, and it can cause very bad, violent vomitting.  

As far as the effectiveness and the addictiveness of Avinza I can only tell you what my experience has been.  I have not been able to get a full night's sleep since I hurt my back 6 years ago.  The pain that I feel can keep me up for days on end, and even when I do sleep, I can't sleep more than 5 hours at a time without the pain waking me up.  So my pain doc decided to prescribe the Avinza for me to take at night time to help me sleep.  I would be very careful about taking Avinza if you are worried about becoming addicted.  Avinza is Morphine, and therefore, you CAN become addicted.  The longer you take this med, and the higher the dose you take, the more likely you are to become physically dependant on the drug.  I am having trouble understanding why you'r doctor would tell you that you cannot become addicted to this drug.  He is wrong.  With any opiate, you'r body can become physically addicted.  As you take opiates, you'r body and you'r brain get used to having a certain amount of the meds, adn if you suddenly stop taking the meds, you are very likely to go into withdrawals.  Please be careful, if you are worried about becoming dependant on the Avinza.  The less time that you take it, and the smallest dose that you take will help you to not become too dependant on the drug, but even in small doses and short time frames, you can still become addicted to Avinza.  I hope that this helped you with the questions and concerns that you have.

[thisissohard]

let me put it to you this way, like I said, I have a full bottle that was prescribed over month ago. I have taken maybe 2 when I had really bad WD's from the hydro. I have no desire to take one, yet if I had a full bottle of norco, I would be all over it!  That's why I don't keep it in the house. I will keep the avinza in case of an emergency (just wont drink)

[bmc1976]

I read many articles on the net and the warning not to drink was on every page. I have always been a social drink but I have never drank while taking my pain meds. Sure, I enjoy my beer but have always been to worried about the side effects. I'm still just nervous about trying it but having pain I'm just not sure. Thanks for the info.
brian

[avisg]

thank you for the warning .......

[thisissohard]

yes, that's correct.  There is an antagonist that keeps you from craving it, so the likelyhood of addiction is not high. at least it wasn't for me.  It's not straight morphine like you see in the WWII movies.

[thisissohard]

PS- there is a good chance that due to the interaction w/ alcohol they will take the medication off the market.  I only recommend if you are a non drinker and have no other options for pain relief. BUT DONT DRINK!, 2 beers and I was almost passed out at a stop light. I don't normally drink so I thought, I had to much, but now I know that's not the case.